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LSU stays in top 15 in final polls

LSU stays in top 15 in final polls

Advocate staff photo by TRAVIS SPRADLING. LSU linebacker Kevin Minter, left, rests his hands on his hips during warmups before the Tigers' game against Mississippi State on Nov. 8. Minter was named the team MVP during a banquet Sunday night.

The LSU Tigers finished No. 12 in the final USA Today coaches' poll and No. 14 in the final Associated Press Top 25.

Both rankings were released Tuesday morning following Alabama's 42-14 rout of Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game. LSU (10-3) went into the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl ranked No. 7 in the coaches' poll and No. 9 in the AP, but a last-second 25-24 loss to Clemson cost LSU a shot at a third straight top-10 finish.

It is the fifth straight year the Tigers have finished in the polls, tying the second-longest streak in school history. LSU finished in the polls six straight years from 1968-73.

LSU was the highest-ranked three-loss team in either poll.

Alabama finished a unanimous No. 1 in both polls, while previous No. 1 Notre Dame dropped to No. 3 in the coaches' poll and No. 4 in the AP.